CONQUESTS OF THE SARACENS. 331 



were hurled to the ground, and despatched by their 

 associates below. Unfolding his turban, the first 

 drew up the second, until they all reached the 

 parapet in safety, ejaculating the while, " Apostle 

 of God, help and deUver us !" With bold and silent 

 step Dames explored the palace of the governor, 

 whom he found in the banquet-room celebrating, in 

 riotous merriment, the pretended retreat of the 

 enemy. Favoured by the darkness of the night, he 

 traversed the castle, stabbed the sentries at every 

 gate, and took possession of their posts without op- 

 position ; not, however, without exciting the alarm 

 of the garrison, who surrounded and would soon 

 have cut the intruders to pieces, had they not un- 

 bolted the gates, let down the drawbridge, and 

 admitted a detachment of cavalry, which, at day- 

 break, had advanced to their relief. The Christians 

 threw down their arms, and surrendered at discre- 

 tion. 



The castle, being taken by storm, was pillaged by 

 the Moslems ; but, in order to save their wealth, and 

 their Vv^ives and children, Youkinna and several of 

 the chief officers became proselytes to the Koran. 

 It was the character of the times to admire acts of 

 desperate and chivalrous enterprise ; and on this 

 occasion, the servile condition of Dames was lost in 

 the glory of his exploit. Out of courtesy to their 

 champion, the army did not decamp from Aleppo 

 until he and his fellow-adventurers were perfectly 

 cured of their wounds. 



The reduction of Antioch, the seat of the Greek 

 emperors, was the next object of the Moslem con- 

 querors ; but this rich capital was still protected by 

 the strong castle of Azaz, garrisoned by 13,000 troops 

 under Theodorus, and the iron bridge of the Orontes. 

 The loss of these defences, and of a partial action 

 which was fought under the walls of the city, de- 

 cided its fate. The trembling inhabitants purchased 

 their safety by the immediate payment of 300,000 



